Inside View on Schneider Dedicated Routes

Well. I've been running around trying to get some insight as to what I can expect from a job that I am considering taking, and a lot of information I'm finding seems older. I'd like a more updated look at things since policies/pay/etc can change over the years, and after basically chasing my tail for a while to find some threads on it, decided maybe it would be quicker to just post my own thread asking. So I literally just made an account a moment ago to post this question.

I just graduated from a trucking school. I was lucky to receive a grant that covered most of it, so little of the cost came out of my pocket, but my schooling was NOT funded at all by a driving company, so I am not beholden to any kind of employment contract. I passed my CDL test today, and was talking with my instructers and a few other classmates. One of my classmates applied for and received a job offer through Schneider for a dedicated Target route that is based out of Chambersburg, PA -- not too far from where I live. He told me the details of it, and it sounded like the kind of trucking job I was hoping to start my career with -- home multiple times a week, sometimes daily, driving not too far from home. I need something like this to get my first burst of experience so I can (hopefully) eventually get into a team position with my fiance. He also took this class with me and is looking for something similar. My classmate also told me that apparently this is a new contract Schneider started and that they are seeking for 20+ new drivers to fill the positions.

Anyway. I called a recruiter and he went over the details with me. 18 days of orientation about 10 miles from where I live, so I don't need to worry about staying at a hotel/travel to the hotel during training if I want. The initial 18 days includes my on-the-road training, from the way the recruiter was talking, and afterwards, I do believe I will be driving the route solo. I'll be picking up in Chambersburg, which is near where I live, and then my routes from there may vary. The routes will all be Target-focused, but which Target I get to will depend on demand, the routes covering parts of PA, NJ, NY, and CT, all stereotypical of these kind of dedicated routes, from what little I know. All no-touch, the recruiter told me. He again told me that the routes will vary, but I can expect to be home a few times a week. He also told me that I will start at 55 cpm for the first 6 months, pay will increase to 57 cpm from 6 months, and after a year I can expect 58 cpm. He told me that drivers average 2100 miles/week.

So... it sounds good to me, and I tell him I'm interested. My instructers told me Schneider is a good starter company, the pay/work seems good from what the recruiter tells me, etc. Since I just passed my CDL-A test today, the recruiter couldn't schedule me for an orientation since the system hadn't yet updated with my upgraded license type, and that he will call me Sunday/Monday when he's back in his office. I currently am employed in a decent-paying (non-driving) job, so I'm not worried about the orientation being pushed off, as I'll need to put a notice in, anyway. After we end our conversation, I decide to do some digging, and... grow a bit concerned with things I see/as I remember things my instructors told me. (Basically, that recruiters will tell you ANYTHING to get you contracted with a company as they get paid on commission.) My fiance also applied for this job, and he has a similar conditional job-offer that he will be scheduled for an orientation after the system updates with his upgraded license type.

And so, my questions, and need for some advice from people who have experience with Schnedier/dedicated routes/etc.

1) The job posting mentioned a $4,000 sign-on bonus for inexperienced drivers ($7,500 for experienced). That... seems high. Is that realistic, or are there loads of strings attached to sign-on bonuses that high? I forgot to mention that I saw the sign-on bonus when I spoke with the recruiter earlier (got distracted when he started throwing all kinds of other information at me) -- is that something I need to talk about/hash out details about with the recruiter to receive? Would I still be able to bring that up before my orientation is scheduled?
2) From what I've heard/seen, 55 cpm is a higher starting pay, right? Is there something that the recruiter again probably isn't completely telling me? Like... I need so many months experience AFTER finishing orientation to receive that pay?
3) I do believe that the recruiter told me that I will be driving for what amounts to basically 4 1/2 days a week (not sure what's up on the 1/2). I tried asking for a rough example of what my work-schedule might look like (am I out for three days then home for a day, is that day between loads part of the "weekend", etc), and he... wasn't very clear in his answer. He sort of gave me an answer, but it was hard to follow (and I think my inexperience was part of why). The job was listed as "home several times a week" dedicated, and with the "4 1/2 days" of driving time, I was hoping for a day or two back to back to be home and relax. Is that at all what the week is usually likely to look like (or what it looks like for you)?

SORRY for the inundation of information/questions. I'm just afraid of signing myself into this job too fast without asking the proper questions first, and as I'm looking for my first CDL-A job (and I'm not attached to any contract that I can choose my employer), I have no idea what to ask at times and utterly no experience to fall back on. Any insight/advice is appreciated!

Cheers!